Exploring the Limits of Sino-U.S. Compromise (Le Temps, Switzerland)
"The great difficulty is this: the adjustment of forces
between a previously dominant power - the United States; and the affirmation of
an emerging power - China. Such a rebalancing cannot occur without friction.
Miscalculations about the intentions of a competitor has led to the worst kinds
of disaster, as the 20th century so clearly demonstrates."
President
Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are
to meet in California to try and establish a bond of personal trust.
In
the interest of world peace, it would be best if the two got along well. And
who are these two? First, there is Barack Obama, elected to a second term as
head of the world's leading power. While he is certainly rattled, do not doubt
his destiny as a global beacon. Then there is Xi Jinping,
the head of China, designated by a "communist" party committed to its
mission of national revival. Now the second largest economy no longer wants to
deal with the United States on an equal footing - out of nostalgia over how
things used to be, when it was the center of the world, or so it thought.
To
ensure that things go smoothly, the American hosts chose a retreat in the California
desert, far from the brouhaha of Washington and lobbyists of every stripe. [video
of Annenberg Estate]For two days, with six
hours of talks on the menu, the main task for the two men in this era of globalization, is to establish a
minimum of trust and prevent any trip-ups in
this necessarily multifaceted and complex relationship.
In
fact, the current state of relations between Washington and Beijing is pretty
good. It is wrong to speak of the Cold War, as the hawks in either camp do to fatten
their respective military budgets. This is nothing like the Soviet era of
permanent confrontation. China's conversion to capitalism has resulted in an
economic interdependence that is now the best guarantor of peace. Beijing has
no interest in conflict with its best customer and largest export market. And
Washington will have to think twice before attacking its most devoted banker.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
But
economic reasoning doesn't dictate everything. The great difficulty is this:
the adjustment of forces between a previously dominant power - the United
States; and the affirmation of an emerging power - China. Such a rebalancing cannot
occur without friction. Miscalculations about the intentions of a competitor has
led to the worst kinds of disaster, as the 20th century so clearly demonstrates.
The two giants aren't doomed to collide, but the risk of tension will
intensify, particularly in the Pacific and the vicinity of China. It would be
equally absurd to ignore the persistent ideological chasm between the heralds
of a liberal democratic capitalism and the supporters of authoritarian
capitalism. On this last point, between Xi and Obama, no compromise is possible.
